"Ghost of the Coast" Decommissioned

HMNZS Monowai, affectionately referred to as the "Ghost of the Coast," was decommissioned in April having served twenty-one years as the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) hydrographic survey ship.

Her departure from Bluff was marked by a water-canon salute, while her final entry into Auckland was accompanied by gun salute and helicopter fly-by; a fitting tribute to a ship with Monowai's excellent record of service.

First launched as the Islands Trader GMV Moana Roa in 1960, she was converted over a two year period to replace her predecessor HMNZS Lachlan in 1977.

The 91 meter survey ship has worked from most New Zealand ports during surveys of waters around the coast of both the North and South Islands, as well as the Bay of Plenty, the Bay of Islands, Cook Strait, Fiordland, Foveaux Strait and near the Chatham, Cambell and Auckland Islands.

The Monowai has also participated in many ventures within international waters including the ANZCAN cable route survey and searches for sea mounts and shoals. Ship and crew were internationally recognised in 1994 for saving the lives of eight people during the New Zealand to Tonga Yacht Regatta.

The Monowai has been replaced by the HMNZS Resolution, Formerly USNS Tenacious. The 68.3 meter ship was purchased from the United States Government in 1996 and arrived in New Zealand in March 1997.

The Resolution replaces both HMNZS Monowai and HMNZS Tui to become the Royal New Zealand Navy's primary survey and acoustic research vessel. She is to be fitted with multibeam equipment this year.

Named after the vessel in which Captain James Cook made his second and third voyages to the Pacific, the Resolution has a range of 15,000 nautical miles and can accommodate up to fifty people.

The new survey and acoustic research vessel HMNZS Resolution

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